A Montgomery County resident, Willie Lee Moore, has pleaded guilty to theft of government property for his involvement in a scheme targeting funds from a COVID-19 support program. The announcement was made by Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The charges stem from misuse of funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act created the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help states and local governments respond to pandemic-related expenses. In North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services used this funding to set up the COVID-19 Support Services Program. This initiative aimed to assist individuals in specific counties who needed resources such as food deliveries and health supplies while isolating or quarantining due to COVID-19.
Court documents indicate that Moore worked with Jamie Ewings and Navonne Moore through Brutonville Concerned Citizens (BCC), a nonprofit subcontracted to provide food boxes and COVID-related supplies in the community. While BCC did distribute some aid, prosecutors said that Moore and his associates submitted inflated invoices so they could receive more reimbursement than allowed. The trio then divided these funds among themselves.
Between November 2020 and February 2021, BCC received approximately $1.14 million over five payments. Of this amount, Willie Lee Moore took about $369,000; Jamie Ewings received around $384,000; and Navonne Moore collected about $180,000. The remainder stayed in BCC’s bank account.
Moore is scheduled for sentencing on February 24, 2026 before Chief/Senior United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles in Greensboro. He faces up to ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, restitution requirements, and other penalties.
Previously, Jamie Ewings was sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to theft of government property. Navonne Moore also pleaded guilty but received four years’ probation for misdemeanor theft.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid is prosecuting.
